Ricky Harris birthday: Police appeal as family marks 34th birthday, Wales 2026

Key Points

• Last seen in CCTV footage at around 2.20pm on Saturday 18 November 2023 in Maes-y-Deri, Aberdare, Ricky Harris, originally from Aberdare, is the subject of a police appeal on what would have been his 34th birthday on 26 September 2026.
• Following a wide-scale search effort involving the use of specialist teams, drones, helicopters and dog units, Ricky Harris has not yet been located, raising significant worries for his well-being.
• A 41-year-old male from Mountain Ash was taken into custody by South Wales Police in June 2026 in connection with an investigation into the disappearance on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice.
• The 150-acre Phurnacite smokeless fuel briquetting plant in Abercwmboi is currently being searched, and this will likely take some time.
• Ricky Harris had connections to Aberdare, Pontypridd and Tredegar and was known to walk a path that locals referred to as ‘Dram Road’.
• Anyone who can help should get in touch with the police by quoting occurrence number 2300394323 either via live chat, email, 101 or CrimeStoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.

Wales Police (Wales Times) September 26, 2026 – On what would have been Ricky Harris’s 34th birthday, his family are marking another heartbreaking milestone without him, as officers issue a fresh and poignant appeal for information. As reported by WalesOnline, the family of the missing Aberdare man are facing another birthday without him, underscoring the prolonged uncertainty that has defined the case since his disappearance in November 2023.

South uk/police/">Wales Police said specialist resources have been deployed throughout the investigation and will continue to be used in the Aberdare area as part of ongoing efforts to locate Ricky. Detective Inspector Owain Morrison previously stated that, despite several public appeals and potential sightings—none of which have been confirmed—Ricky remains missing and there is growing concern for his welfare.

Who is Ricky Harris and when was he last seen?

Ricky Harris was 31 when he was last seen on CCTV at around 2.20pm on Saturday, 18 November 2023, in Maes-y-Deri, Aberdare, wearing grey and black clothing. He has links to Aberdare, Pontypridd and Tredegar and is known to walk a route known locally as the Dram Road.

In December 2023, Superintendent Michelle Conquer said that since Ricky’s disappearance, police had carried out extensive enquiries including a thorough review of CCTV, area searches and house-to-house enquiries. Specialist officers undertook searches in numerous locations, assisted by drones, police helicopters, the dog unit and the search and rescue team. “Ricky appears to have vanished without a trace,” she added at the time.

What have police said in their latest birthday appeal?

In a renewed appeal released on Ricky’s birthday, South Wales Police reiterated their commitment to uncovering the truth and urged the public to come forward with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem. As reported by Wales247, Detective Inspector Owain Morrison said: “We are deeply committed to uncovering the truth behind Ricky’s disappearance. Our dedicated team is actively pursuing a thorough and detailed investigation, driven by the hope of bringing Ricky back to his loved ones.”

DI Morrison added that every sighting and piece of information from the public is treated with the utmost seriousness and that officers are continually reviewing new leads to ensure no stone is left unturned. He said inquiries have not been confined to local areas, with searches expanding to North Wales, and that officers have examined numerous locations including rivers, waterways and dense vegetation.

“As we remember Ricky’s birthday, we urge anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward. Your help could be crucial in bringing Ricky home,”

he said.

What arrests and searches have taken place in 2026?

In June 2026, the investigation took a significant turn when a 41-year-old man from Mountain Ash was arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice in connection with Ricky’s disappearance. As reported by Elise Jenkins of BBC Wales, the man was subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries, while officers began searching the Phurnacite plant—a smokeless fuel briquetting facility covering 150 acres—in Abercwmboi village. The force said the search is expected to take “some time”.

ITV News Wales reported that Ricky’s family had previously told the broadcaster they feared the worst had happened, with his mother, Alison, saying in 2023: “Something in my stomach is telling me he’s dead.” South Wales Police confirmed that their investigation has been exhaustive, with officers continually reviewing new information, and that the search of the Phurnacite site in Abercwmboi is ongoing.

How can the public help the investigation?

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Ricky, or who has information that could assist, to contact them quoting occurrence number 2300394323. Members of the public can get in touch via South Wales Police’s live chat service, by email at 101@south-wales.pnn.police.uk, by calling 101, or by providing information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. In earlier appeals, officers stressed that information which may seem insignificant could be the key to helping investigators understand what happened and provide answers to his family.

Background to the disappearance and investigation

Ricky Harris’s disappearance in November 2023 prompted an immediate and large-scale response from South Wales Police, including the deployment of specialist search officers, dive teams, dog scent units, and support from police helicopters and drones. Initial enquiries focused on Aberdare and surrounding areas, with officers reviewing CCTV footage, conducting area searches and carrying out house-to-house enquiries. Over time, the investigation broadened geographically, with inquiries extending into North Wales as police pursued potential leads.

In 2025, WalesOnline reported that investigations had expanded to include northern Wales and noted that Ricky’s family had received a letter alleging that he had been murdered and suggesting a burial location, though police said they had found no evidence to support third-party involvement. The case remained open and active, with periodic appeals timed to significant dates, including birthdays and anniversaries, to keep public attention on the search for Ricky.

The June 2026 arrest marked the first known detention in connection with the case, with the 41-year-old suspect held on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice. The subsequent search of the Phurnacite site in Abercwmboi represented one of the most substantial physical operations in the inquiry since the initial months after Ricky’s disappearance.

What could this mean for families of missing people in Wales?

The trajectory of the Ricky Harris case from an extensive multi-agency search to a high-profile arrest and large-scale site excavation three years on may influence how families of missing people in Wales perceive long-term investigations. For families enduring prolonged uncertainty, the 2026 developments could reinforce the message that cases remain active even when public updates are infrequent, and that new forensic or investigative techniques can prompt significant operational steps years after a disappearance.

If the search of the Phurnacite site yields material evidence, it could provide long-awaited answers to Ricky’s family and potentially shape future policing strategies for complex missing-person cases involving suspected concealment of remains. Conversely, if the search concludes without findings, families may face renewed emotional strain while police continue to review leads and maintain open lines for public information. In either scenario, the case underscores the importance of sustained public engagement and the value of even minor details in helping investigators reconstruct the final movements of missing individuals.